The City of Edinburgh Council has now confirmed the first round of projects that will be funded through the upcoming Edinburgh Visitor Levy, which comes into effect in July 2026.
As expected, the levy itself has sparked plenty of debate. Some people support it, others don’t. But now that the first spending plans are out in the open, it feels like the conversation can move on from whether it should exist and focus more on what the money is actually being used for.
Our priority is to look out for the short term let property owners we work alongside, and to identify how the effects of the levy might be of benefit. Edinburgh is one of our core locations, so we’ve broken down what our landlords and owners might expect in short, medium and long term.
Looking at the detail, there’s a lot aimed at improving how the city works day to day, for both visitors and the people who live here.
Investment that’s easy to recognise
More than £90 million is planned for the first three years, with funding spread across projects that most people will immediately understand.
There’s money going into public spaces and high streets, restoring cultural venues, improving parks and coastal areas, increasing street cleaning and maintenance, and adding more support around safety in busy areas.
None of this is particularly glamorous but these are the things people notice when they visit a city. Clean streets. Safe spaces. Places that feel cared for.
Those details shape how Edinburgh is experienced far more than any single attraction.
Edinburgh is incredibly popular, and tourism plays a huge role in the city’s economy. But it also puts pressure on infrastructure and services. Streets wear faster, public spaces need more upkeep, and the city has to work harder to maintain standards during busy periods.
The idea behind the levy is simple enough: visitors contribute towards maintaining and improving the city they come to enjoy.
Whether people agree with the approach or not, the key thing now is delivery and how well that funding turns into real, visible improvements.
Thinking longer term
One thing that stands out in the plans is the intention to look beyond the city centre and beyond peak season.
There’s investment planned for coastal areas, neighbourhood high streets and year-round cultural activity. That matters because Edinburgh’s long-term success depends on spreading visitor activity more evenly, rather than concentrating everything into a few hotspots and a few months of the year.
If done well, that creates a healthier balance for residents, businesses and visitors alike.
What this could mean for short-term lets in Edinburgh
While the levy applies across all types of overnight accommodation, it’s worth noting how these changes could influence short-term let providers.
Guest experience doesn’t start when someone opens the door to a property, it starts the moment they arrive in the city. The condition of public spaces, the feeling of safety, the quality of parks and attractions all shape how people talk about their stay afterwards.
Better infrastructure and investment in the city’s appearance and cultural offer can only help strengthen that overall experience.
There’s also a clear push towards encouraging year-round tourism, which may help smooth demand outside the traditional busy periods, something many accommodation providers will welcome.
What to expect next
The next few years will show how these investments translate on the ground, and how the city balances growth with sustainability.
No new levy will ever please everyone – that’s just the reality of it.
But if the funding genuinely leads to cleaner streets, safer public spaces, stronger cultural venues and a better overall experience of the city, then there’s a real opportunity here.
Edinburgh has built its reputation over decades. Investment that helps protect and improve that experience, for residents and visitors alike, feels like a step worth watching closely.
There are some genuinely interesting things coming, and it’ll be good to see how they take shape over the next few years.
If you are located in Edinburgh and would like to schedule a no-obligation chat about how we can generate you more income while saving you time, get in touch here.
